U.S. Forest Service · Ocala National Forest · FL

Salt Springs Recreation Area

ReservableBookable through April 16; today opens April 17.
Book on recreation.govWe make nothing when you book
Right now
Taking bookingsSites offered on 30 of the next 30 nights read 16:28 UTC
A night
$38–$70Across the site types the agency prices
Sites
160146 on recreation.gov
40 ftLongest rig
30 ftElevation
1,984 ftWater · Salt Springs Run
0.2 miE of Lake Kerr, FL
41%Tree cover

The place

the agency’s own description · what’s there · 12 notices

In the agency’s own words

Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, 35 miles east of Ocala, Florida. The national forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest, contiguous sand pine scrub forest. Keep reading

Recreation

The natural springs, nearby Lake George and many surrounding rivers and streams provide ample opportunity for water recreation. Anglers can try a good fishing spot on Salt Springs Run, downstream of the swimming area, boat ramp and marina. Boat rentals are nearby. For those who wish to explore on land, the facility has basketball courts and a horseshoe pit. Hikers have easy access to the Bear Swamp Trail and a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.

Facilities

Salt Springs is the largest campground in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with full hookups for RVs. The facility offers spacious campsites for RVs and trailers, as well as a designated tent-only area, which is a short walk from the parking area. Sites are nicely shaded and well away from the busy day-use area. The recreation area and campground are located in the community of Salt Springs, which has a gas station, grocery store, several restaurants, bait and tackle shops, a post office, laundromat and visitor center.

Natural Features

The semi-tropical region gives the campground a mixture of pines and palms, with lush greenery and warm temperatures. Within the recreation area, a natural spring rises from cracks deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters a slight salinity - hence the name Salt Springs.

Nearby Attractions

Salt Springs is very close to Lake George, a great fishing destination.

What the agency tells you

Rule

Two vehicles are included in the site fee. However, only 1 vehicle is allowed to park on the site spur unless it completely fits on the asphalt/parking pad. The other vehicle must park in overflow parking. Boats are considered a vehicle and will count towards one of your vehicles if you bring one. An extra vehicle charge will be applied towards boats and vheicles over the allowed 2.

Rule

Vehicles, trailers, campers, motorcycles, etc. must be parked on paved surfaces. Do not park on the grass.

Rule

Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators are not allowed to run during quiet hours.

Everything else this campground posts · 9
Rule

Stays are only allowed for 14 days in any 30 day period.

Rule

Be sure to reserve a site that will accommodate your equipment. The site you reserve is your site. You may not move to another site.

Rule

Pets are not allowed into the Day Use area Forest Order #08-05-05-02-13-0207; 36 CFR261.58(s)

Rule

Personal golf carts are not allowed in the Ocala National Forest; if you bring one, it must remain on its trailer

Rule

Maximum 2 vehicles allowed per site; a fee will be charged for extra vehicles

Rule

There is no cell phone coverage or internet service at Salt Springs

Rule

Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.

Rule

Discount passes must be entered at the time of booking for single sites only, all request for refunds will need to be requested online, no onsite refunds will be given.

Rule

Click here for more information about Ocala National Forest

Read them on the agency’s own page →

Tents and rigs

Sites
160 · 52 tent-only
Hookups
94 electric, 106 water, 106 sewer
Longest rig
40 ft
Paved pads
All
Accessible sites
5
Pets
Allowed
Campfires
Allowed, barring fire bans
Shade
95 of 124 sites
Source: Recreation.gov campsite records · Aug 23, 2026

Facilities

Dump station
Yes
recreation.gov lists “Dump Station”
Boat ramp
Yes
Camp host
On site
recreation.gov lists “Host”
Stay limit
14 nights
recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Source: Stated in the agency description · Aug 23, 2026

Around the campground

On the water
Lake, River, Creek
Boating
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Swimming
Night sky · 33rd darkest of 60 in FL
Bortle 4
Source: Recreation.gov activity records · Aug 23, 2026

199 of 288 site-nights open this Friday and Saturdayread 16:28 UTC

recreation.gov lists 146 of the 160 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.

OpenBooked

Booking window6 months outBookable now through April 16, 2027. Today at 10 AM ET, availability opens through April 17, 2027.recreation.gov
Max stay14 nightsthe facility record
A night$38–$70plus $8 to reserve, once per bookingthe agency’s rate schedule
A weekend$84–$148DerivedFriday and Saturday, everything includedours, from the lines above
If plans change$10 to cancel$10 to change a reservationrecreation.gov’s schedule
Runs itU.S. Forest ServiceBooked through recreation.govthe agency’s record
Watch for a cancellation

Full? Watch it.

One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.

We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.

Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
Book on recreation.gov

We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.

Every line of the receipt · 13

What you actually pay

The sign priceU.S. Forest Service
A night, per site$38–$70
Tent Only Nonelectric$38
Standard Electric$70
Rates for the season the campground is in now, Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026.
The booking feerecreation.gov
Reservation fee, booked online$8
One fee per reservation, however many nights you book, and it’s non-refundable. $9 if you book by phone, $3 in person.
Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount.
What a stay costs
One nightDerived$46–$78
A weekend, Friday and SaturdayDerived$84–$148

Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $38–$70 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.

If your plans changerecreation.gov
Change fee, moving to dates outside your booking$10
Cancellation fee$10
Cancelling the day before, or the day of$10 + your first night
No-show$20 + your first night

Who keeps the booking fee

The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →

How we know this receipt · 5

recreation.gov availability, read 16:28 UTC · rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

The sites

160 sites · which ones have room · the site map

The sites, ranked

from 144 mapped sites
54 ftbetween you and the next site, typically
Least roomLoop HKUP 011 27 ftLoop HKUP 012 27 ftLoop HKUP 092 32 ft

All 160 sites

158 of 160 sites located
Tent only50RV / electric94Type not stated14
Takes aUp to

Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 158 of the 160 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.

The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 52 of the 160 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.

Measured shade is NLCD Tree Canopy Cover 2024 (USDA Forest Service / MRLC) read at the site’s own coordinate, 27% canopy or more, and only for the sites the agency gave no Shade value. It never changes the agency’s own shaded count beside it.

HKUP001rv electric40 ft50 amp51 ft2,021 ftLittle Lake Kerr184 ft
HKUP002rv electric40 ft50 amp51 ft2,064 ftLittle Lake Kerr195 ft
HKUP003rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,124 ftLittle Lake Kerr200 ft
HKUP004rv electric40 ft50 amp64 ft2,186 ftLittle Lake Kerr186 ft
HKUP005rv electric40 ft50 amp52 ft2,143 ftLittle Lake Kerr126 ft
HKUP006rv electric40 ft50 amp52 ft2,107 ftLittle Lake Kerr85 ft
HKUP007rv electric40 ft50 amp67 ft2,027 ftLittle Lake Kerr112 ft
HKUP008rv electric40 ft50 amp67 ft1,961 ftLittle Lake Kerr160 ft
HKUP009-managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp2,071 ftLittle Lake Kerr68 ft
HKUP010rv electric40 ft50 amp35 ft2,115 ftLittle Lake Kerr41 ft
HKUP011rv electric40 ft50 amp27 ft2,149 ftLittle Lake Kerr54 ft
HKUP012rv electric40 ft50 ampyes27 ft2,156 ftLittle Lake Kerr48 ft
HKUP013rv electric40 ft50 amp34 ft2,212 ftLittle Lake Kerr104 ft
HKUP014rv electric40 ft50 amp34 ft2,243 ftLittle Lake Kerr137 ft
HKUP015rv electric40 ft50 amp39 ft2,268 ftLittle Lake Kerr170 ft
HKUP016rv electric40 ft50 amp50 ft2,305 ftLittle Lake Kerr195 ft
HKUP017rv electric40 ft50 amp48 ft2,264 ftLittle Lake Kerr157 ft
HKUP018rv electric40 ft50 amp48 ft2,218 ftLittle Lake Kerr119 ft
HKUP019rv electric40 ft50 ampyes34 ft2,169 ftLittle Lake Kerr88 ft
HKUP020rv electric40 ft50 amp42 ft2,124 ftLittle Lake Kerr83 ft
HKUP021rv electric40 ft50 amp45 ft2,080 ftLittle Lake Kerr97 ft
HKUP022rv electric40 ft50 amp51 ft2,031 ftLittle Lake Kerr132 ft
HKUP023rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft1,999 ftLittle Lake Kerr265 ft
HKUP024rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,053 ftLittle Lake Kerr241 ft
HKUP025rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,113 ftLittle Lake Kerr224 ft
HKUP026rv electric40 ft50 amp48 ft2,176 ftLittle Lake Kerr221 ft
HKUP027rv electric40 ft50 amp38 ft2,220 ftLittle Lake Kerr220 ft
HKUP028rv electric40 ft50 amp35 ft2,254 ftLittle Lake Kerr227 ft
HKUP029rv electric40 ft50 amp35 ft2,287 ftLittle Lake Kerr239 ft
HKUP030rv electric40 ft50 amp37 ft2,315 ftLittle Lake Kerr248 ft
HKUP031- managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp2,345 ftLittle Lake Kerr258 ft
HKUP032rv electric40 ft50 amp48 ft2,395 ftLittle Lake Kerr320 ft
HKUP033rv electric40 ft50 amp35 ft2,340 ftLittle Lake Kerr279 ft
HKUP034rv electric40 ft50 amp35 ft2,316 ftLittle Lake Kerr248 ft
HKUP035rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,257 ftLittle Lake Kerr215 ft
HKUP036rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,209 ftLittle Lake Kerr199 ft
HKUP037rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,159 ftLittle Lake Kerr203 ft
HKUP038rv electric40 ft50 amp59 ft2,103 ftLittle Lake Kerr226 ft
HKUP039rv electric40 ft50 amp59 ft2,049 ftLittle Lake Kerr258 ft
HKUP040 - managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp1,974 ftLittle Lake Kerr322 ft
HKUP041rv electric40 ft50 amp76 ft1,960 ftLittle Lake Kerr314 ft
HKUP042rv electric40 ft50 amp58 ft2,034 ftLittle Lake Kerr240 ft
HKUP043rv electric40 ft50 amp58 ft2,092 ftLittle Lake Kerr182 ft
HKUP044 - managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp2,134 ftLittle Lake Kerr140 ft
HKUP045rv electric40 ft50 amp47 ft2,243 ftLittle Lake Kerr61 ft
HKUP046rv electric40 ft50 amp47 ft2,279 ftLittle Lake Kerr83 ft
HKUP047rv electric40 ft50 amp61 ft2,339 ftLittle Lake Kerr144 ft
HKUP048rv electric40 ft50 amp55 ft2,378 ftLittle Lake Kerr205 ft
HKUP049rv electric40 ft50 amp55 ft2,423 ftLittle Lake Kerr255 ft
HKUP050rv electric40 ft50 amp48 ft2,434 ftLittle Lake Kerr313 ft
HKUP051rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,476 ftLittle Lake Kerr250 ft
HKUP052rv electric40 ft50 amp45 ft2,451 ftLittle Lake Kerr203 ft
HKUP053rv electric40 ft50 amp45 ft2,413 ftLittle Lake Kerr158 ft
HKUP054rv electric40 ft50 amp50 ft2,366 ftLittle Lake Kerr108 ft
HKUP055rv electric40 ft50 ampyes56 ft2,318 ftLittle Lake Kerr52 ft
HKUP056rv electric40 ft50 amp84 ft2,134 ftLittle Lake Kerr160 ft
HKUP057rv electric40 ft50 amp67 ft2,051 ftLittle Lake Kerr232 ft
HKUP058rv electric40 ft50 amp88 ft1,964 ftLittle Lake Kerr320 ft
HKUP059rv electric40 ft50 amp53 ft1,984 ftLittle Lake Kerr345 ft
HKUP060rv electric40 ft50 amp37 ft2,037 ftLittle Lake Kerr308 ft
HKUP061rv electric40 ft50 amp37 ft2,073 ftLittle Lake Kerr275 ft
HKUP062rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,136 ftLittle Lake Kerr228 ft
HKUP063rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,187 ftLittle Lake Kerr186 ft
HKUP064-managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp2,224 ft154 ft
HKUP065rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,249 ft130 ft
HKUP066rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,284 ft122 ft
HKUP067rv electric40 ft50 ampyes66 ft2,319 ft154 ft
HKUP068rv electric40 ft50 amp65 ft2,380 ft168 ft
HKUP069rv electric40 ft50 amp43 ft2,434 ft214 ft
HKUP070rv electric40 ft50 amp43 ft2,466 ft253 ft
HKUP071 - managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp2,519 ft298 ft
HKUP072rv electric40 ft50 amp74 ft2,465 ft350 ft
HKUP073rv electric40 ft50 amp62 ft2,405 ft295 ft
HKUP074rv electric40 ft50 amp55 ft2,354 ft255 ft
HKUP075rv electric40 ft50 amp41 ft2,308 ft232 ft
HKUP076rv electric40 ft50 amp41 ft2,275 ft221 ft
HKUP077rv electric40 ft50 amp46 ft2,241 ft212 ft
HKUP078rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,203 ft206 ft
HKUP079rv electric40 ft50 amp51 ft2,171 ft213 ft
HKUP080rv electric40 ft50 amp51 ft2,142 ft235 ft
HKUP081rv electric40 ft50 amp69 ft2,121 ft260 ft
HKUP082 - managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp2,108 ft287 ft
HKUP083rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,095 ft325 ft
HKUP084rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft2,043 ftLittle Lake Kerr371 ft
HKUP085 - managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp1,989 ftLittle Lake Kerr418 ft
HKUP086rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft1,970 ft481 ft
HKUP087rv electric40 ft50 amp60 ft1,979 ft441 ft
HKUP088rv electric40 ft50 amp73 ft1,996 ft397 ft
HKUP089rv electric40 ft50 amp55 ft2,018 ft360 ft
HKUP090rv electric40 ft50 amp55 ft2,017 ft359 ft
HKUP091rv electric40 ft50 amp73 ft2,050 ft338 ft
HKUP092rv electric40 ft50 amp32 ft2,087 ft336 ft
HKUP093rv electric40 ft50 amp32 ft2,107 ft334 ft
HKUP094rv electric40 ft50 amp57 ft2,140 ft347 ft
HKUP095rv electric40 ft50 amp55 ft2,181 ft357 ft
HKUP096rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,214 ft384 ft
HKUP097rv electric40 ft50 amp54 ft2,251 ft410 ft
HKUP098rv electric40 ft50 amp50 ft2,295 ft444 ft
HKUP099rv electric40 ft50 amp50 ft2,330 ft478 ft
HKUP100rv electric40 ft50 amp56 ft2,377 ft512 ft
HKUP101rv electric40 ft50 amp59 ft2,424 ft555 ft
HKUP102rv electric40 ft50 amp93 ft2,432 ft425 ft
HKUP103-managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp1,909 ft471 ft
HKUP104-managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp1,897 ft479 ft
HKUP105-managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp1,873 ft523 ft
HKUP106-managementtype not stated40 ft50 amp1,867 ft580 ft
TENT112tent only nonelectric46 ft1,316 ft301 ft$38
TENT113tent only nonelectric46 ft1,355 ft335 ft$38
TENT114tent only nonelectric48 ft1,397 ft375 ft$38
TENT115tent only nonelectric45 ft1,452 ft429 ft$38
TENT116tent only nonelectric45 ft1,490 ft468 ft$38
TENT117tent only nonelectric57 ft1,541 ft520 ft$38
TENT118tent only nonelectric143 ft1,584 ft565 ft$38
TENT119tent only nonelectric74 ft1,683 ft544 ft$38
TENT120tent only nonelectric72 ft1,623 ft489 ft$38
TENT121tent only nonelectric72 ft1,567 ft440 ft$38
TENT122tent only nonelectric65 ft1,508 ft392 ft$38
TENT123tent only nonelectric65 ft1,457 ft368 ft$38
TENT124tent only nonelectric59 ft1,191 ft178 ft$38
TENT125tent only nonelectric59 ft1,173 ft151 ft$38
TENT126tent only nonelectric66 ft1,174 ft161 ft$38
TENT127tent only nonelectric88 ft1,086 ft66 ft$38
TENT128tent only nonelectricyes70 ft1,002 ft88 ft$38
TENT129tent only nonelectric70 ft937 ft103 ft$38
TENT130tent only nonelectric90 ft884 ft197 ft$38
TENT131tent only nonelectric90 ft844 ft285 ft$38
TENT132tent only nonelectric92 ft808 ft377 ft$38
TENT133tent only nonelectric96 ft815 ft465 ft$38
TENT134tent only nonelectric118 ft804 ft574 ft$38
TENT135tent only nonelectric100 ft768 ft291 ft$38
TENT136tent only nonelectric66 ft791 ft232 ft$38
TENT137tent only nonelectric40 ft735 ft289 ft$38
TENT138tent only nonelectric40 ft695 ft329 ft$38
TENT139tent only nonelectric42 ft653 ft371 ft$38
TENT140tent only nonelectric43 ft610 ft414 ft$38
TENT141tent only nonelectric74 ft822 ft211 ft$38
TENT142tent only nonelectric38 ft487 ft546 ft$38
TENT143tent only nonelectric38 ft524 ft514 ft$38
TENT144tent only nonelectric38 ft561 ft481 ft$38
TENT145tent only nonelectric37 ft600 ft448 ft$38
TENT146tent only nonelectric37 ft637 ft416 ft$38
TENT147tent only nonelectric41 ft678 ft384 ft$38
TENT148tent only nonelectric41 ft718 ft352 ft$38
TENT149tent only nonelectric48 ft847 ft281 ft$38
TENT150tent only nonelectric66 ft877 ft215 ft$38
TENT151tent only nonelectric85 ft769 ft366 ft$38
TENT152tent only nonelectric48 ft895 ft265 ft$38
TENT153tent only nonelectric47 ft957 ft241 ft$38
TENT154tent only nonelectric47 ft1,003 ft227 ft$38
TENT155tent only nonelectric46 ft1,051 ft213 ft$38
TENT156tent only nonelectric59 ft1,107 ft158 ft$38
TENT157tent only nonelectric46 ft1,086 ft197 ft$38
TENT158tent only nonelectric56 ft1,162 ft227 ft$38
TENT159tent only nonelectric56 ft1,186 ft211 ft$38
TENT160tent only nonelectric67 ft1,249 ft277 ft$38
TENT161type not stated1,032 ft83 ft
TENT162type not stated993 ft70 ft
TENT163tent only nonelectric99 ft955 ft120 ft$38
TENT164tent only nonelectric$38
TENT165tent only nonelectric$38

25 of 160 listed

Getting there

the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Coordinate29.35694, -81.73194
The phone352-685-2048
The agency’s pageOfficial page ↗

Where it is

Getting there

Salt Springs is located 35 miles east of Ocala (I-75), 60 miles west of Daytona Beach (I-95) and 95 miles north of Orlando, Florida.

From I-75 to Ocala: Drive east on State Route 40 for about 12 miles, then turn north on County Road 314 and proceed for 18 miles. Turn north on State Highway 19 and drive for about 0.5 mile to the recreation area entrance on the right.

From I-95 east of Ormond Beach: Take SR 40 west about 40 miles to Highway 19. Turn north on Highway 19 and go about 16 miles to Salt Springs. Continue 0.5 miles to the recreation entrance on the right.

The weather

the next four days · the thirty-year normal

Next four days, and the thirty-year normal

Forecast

Today76°Chance Rain Showers37% rain
Tonight60°Partly Cloudy2% rain
Sunday75°Slight Chance Rain Showers24% rain
Sunday Night61°Partly Cloudy7% rain

NWS forecast for Lake Kerr, FL

Typical weather

Typical October night 66°F, day 82°F.

100°40°

Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more

A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.

Measured at: CRESCENT CITY, FL (USC00081978), 14 miles away and at about the same elevation

The land, and who answers for it

who answers for it

Who answers for this land

Randy Fine, official portrait

Salt Springs Recreation Area is in Florida’s 6th congressional district. Its representative, Randy Fine (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

How we know

every fact on this page, and where it came from
Right now: recreation.gov is offering sites on 30 of the next 30 nights, which isn’t something a closed campground does.
Cell signal: the Forest Service’s own campground description, read as text by CAMPANAC. None of this is a measurement. It’s what the land manager published about the place, and phones, carriers and weather all disagree with each other; treat it as a warning, not a promise.